Crime & Policing Meeting

On the 10th June 2022 Ramsgate Town Council organised a meeting to discuss crime and policing in Ramsgate.

The aim of the meeting was to:

• To find out more about how policing and community safety in Ramsgate is currently managed and what resources are available.
• To consider what the root causes are.
• To agree actionable steps to improve the situation.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Steve Albon, and attended by:

• Members of Ramsgate Town Council
• Samantha Wheatley (Senior Caseworker attending on behalf of Craig Mackinlay MP)
• Chief Inspector Matthew Smith
• Sergeant Jim Woodward
• Councillor Ash Ashbee, TDC Leader
• Jo-Anna Taylor, TDC Community Services Manager
• Councillor Trevor Shonk, Kent County Council

Chief Inspector Smith and Ms J Taylor provided information about how the Police and Thanet District Council (TDC) work in relation to community safety and crime; what resources are available and what initiatives are currently under way.

The following is not an exhaustive list of the discussion, but some of the area’s covered:

• At times, officers are required to take arrested persons, or those in mental health crisis, to hospital. The presence of police officers is required due to the powers available to them to detain people in such circumstances. Such duties can impact upon the availability of officers, and at times can be ongoing for several hours.
• The use of “My Community Voice” to access local officers was encouraged (in addition to 999 or 101), for communicating problems with local officers. It was stressed that problems must be reported, the Police cannot commit resources if problems aren’t known about.
• There is a multi-agency meeting solely to discuss crime and safety in Ramsgate that takes place bi-monthly.
• Additional CCTV has been approved by TDC, the wait is now with BT for it to be installed.
• Although the Police HQ in Maidstone is closing, there is no reduction in resources, all the activities previously carried out in Maidstone are being carried out elsewhere.
• When there is a significant / recurring problem the Police can ‘bid’ for additional resources. Police personnel are also borderless (i.e. officers from Dover / Canterbury / Folkestone) can respond to emergencies in Ramsgate.
• The Police and PCSO’s patrol during the day and evening; it was noted that the public don’t believe this happens, which is one of the areas that would be improved with better publicity.
• Homeless people are free to make choices and they can only be assisted if they consent to this help.

Councillor Steve Albon, Chair of Ramsgate Town Council, said “Community safety is a long running concern for Ramsgate Town Council, and in April this year I was contacted by various residents who were particularly upset about offences that had happened to them, their families and in the community. The Town Council supported my motion to arrange this meeting and I’m pleased with the stakeholders who were able to attend, or course it would have been ideal if the MP had been available, but we thank him for sending a representative. This was not intended to be a meeting at which the Police were criticised, we are grateful for what the local officers do, and it was interesting to find out how policing is managed. Of course, more resources are required and hopefully all present will push for more funding and resources at every opportunity.”

Leader of Thanet District Council, Councillor Ash Ashbee said: "Feeling safe is something our residents consistently tell us is important when we ask them what matters most in making Thanet a good place to live. We are working on a number of new campaigns and initiatives through our work with the Thanet Community Safety Partnership to help improve how safe people feel in the district. It was a valuable opportunity to attend the meeting hosted by Ramsgate Town Council to be able to share the work that we and other lead agencies are doing but also to explore more ways that we can work together in the future."

It was agreed that:

• All present would advocate for more policing resources for Ramsgate;
• Ward Councillors would attend walk abouts with the PCSOs to familiarise themselves with the problems.
• Perception can be different to what is happening; statistics are improving (compared to pre-COVID levels).
• The Police need to improve their publicity to help re-assure residents and demonstrate visibility; the town and district council will help share this communication.
• The group will meet again in six months’ time.

Written by:
Miss Laura Fidler,
Town Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer